Theme

The Message You Remember

Can you remember a favorite story from childhood?

***Let’s think for a moment about the traditional tale of The Three Little Pigs.

The Message You Remember

Summarize what happens in the story. What is the conflict? Who are the characters? What is the outcome of the conflict?

The Message You Remember

What do we learn from the pigs?

Hard work pays off—the pig who took his time and built his house of bricks lived, and the others didn’t.

The Message You Remember

The message you take from a particular story is its theme!

The Message You Remember

What is theme?

The message, or the truth, about people or the world that the author wants you to take away from his/her story.

“Two Frogs and the Milk Vat”

*** Before we read…A vat is a very large container.

Milk vats are often filled with milk that has just come from the cow, so the milk contains a lot of fat. When the milk is churned up, the fat turns to butter.

This story was told to the writer, Claude Brown, by a teacher who was trying to encourage him to stay out of trouble.

“Two Frogs and the Milk Vat”

There were two frogs sitting on a milk vat one time. The frogs fell into the milk vat. It was very deep. They kept swimming, and swimming around, and they couldn’t get out. They couldn’t climb out because they were too far down. One frog said, “Oh, I can’t make it, and I’m going to give up.”

“Two Frogs and the Milk Vat”

***Stop and Think Where are these frogs? Why is falling into the vat dangerous for

them? What will happen to the frog who stops

swimming? Does this frog handle the problem well? Would you want a friend who acted like

this frog? Do you know people who give up as soon

as things get tough? Is that a good way to act?

“Two Frogs and the Milk Vat”

And the other frog kept swimming. His arms became more and more tired, and it was harder and harder and harder for him to swim. Then, he couldn’t do another stroke. He couldn’t throw one more arm into the milk. He kept trying and trying; it seemed as if the milk was getting hard and heavy.

“Two Frogs and the Milk Vat”

He kept trying; he knows that he’s going to die, but as long as he’s got this little bit of life in him, he’s going to keep on swimming. On his last stroke, it seemed as though he had to pull a whole ocean back, but he did it and found himself sitting on top of a vat of butter.

“Two Frogs and the Milk Vat”

***Stop and Think What happens to the second frog? How does he handle the situation? Would you want a friend that acts

like the second frog? What do this frog’s actions show

you about not giving up even when things look hopeless?

“Two Frogs and the Milk Vat”

What character traits would describe each of the frogs?

“Two Frogs and the Milk Vat”

Frog #1 Quitter Undetermined Lazy

“Two Frogs and the Milk Vat”

Frog #2 Determined Hard-working Never gives

up

Analyzing ThemeSome clues for finding theme:

Don’t try to state a theme in one word. If you do that, you’re probably confusing the theme with the subject.

If you find yourself describing what happened in the story and saying, “and then this happened,” you’ve confused the theme with the plot.

A theme must be stated in a sentence that tells a truth about life, not just the story.

What isn’t a theme?

Subjects

frogs milk swimming

What isn’t a theme?

PlotElements

One frog who gives up and

one who doesn’t

Two frogsfall in a

vat of milk

One froggives up

and drowns

Possible Themes

“Two Frogs inthe Milk Vat”

Themes

Often when you think there’s no

hope, you discoverthe worst is over.

A positive attitudecan help you turn

your troublesinto triumphs.

Subject vs. Theme

Subject ThemeGrowing up Growing up means

taking more responsibility.

Nature Nature can be beautiful, but deadly.

Love People sometimes express love through actions, not words.

Remember…

Theme must ALWAYS be expressed in a COMPLETE sentence.